EXPERT ADVICE ON MENTAL HEALTH THE COEXISTENCE OF HUMANS AND WILDLIFE 06 APRIL 2025 IPL 2025: DELHI BEAT CSK TO EXTEND UNBEATEN RUN www.thestatesman.com X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 PAGE 12 SINCE 1818 PAGES 16|` 5.00 |LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR WEATHER Partly cloudy. Nearby storms may bring lightning, gusty winds. Maximum and Minimum Temperature most likely to be around 37˚C and 27˚C respectively. RAINFALL: 0.0 mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 79% The two countries signed seven key MoUs, including one on enhancing defence cooperation Min. 54% ASHOK TUTEJA NEW DELHI, 5 APRIL TEMPERATURE Max: 37.5˚C SUN RISES 05:31 hrs MOON RISES 12:12 hrs Modi asks Dissanayake to fulfil aspirations of Tamils Min: 27.3˚C SUN SETS 17:50 hrs MOON SETS 01:17 hrs U Full Moon on 13 April THUMBNAILS A woman offers prayers at the ancient Sheetla Mata temple on the occasion of Durga Ashtami, in Amritsar on Saturday. n ANI Justice Yashwant Varma takes oath as judge of Allahabad HC: Justice Yashwant Varma, transferred recently from the Delhi High Court, was sworn in as the judge of the Allahabad High Court here on Saturday. He was administered oath in the Chief Justice's Chamber. However, he has not been given any responsibility yet. Until the ongoing investigation against him is completed, he has been kept away from judicial work. nderlining that Sri Lanka has a special place in India's “Neighbourhood First” policy and “Mahasagar” vision, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged the government of Sri Lanka to meet the aspirations of Tamils, work in the direction of full implementation of the constitution, and fulfil its commitment to hold Provincial Council elections. Addressing a press conference after his talks with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo, he said the two leaders discussed in detail the issues relating to the livelihood of fishermen. “President Dissanayake shared with me his views on the matter. We stressed the need for the immediate release of fishermen along with their boats,” he added. The two countries signed seven key MoUs, including one on enhancing defence cooperation, after the talks between the two leaders. Far-reaching pacts The two countries signed seven key MoUs after the talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) on a framework for defence cooperation, the first such agreement between the two countries, will institutionalise joint exercises, training and high-level exchanges. A tripartite MoU involving the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will focus on the development of Trincomalee as an energy hub, including the construction of a multi-product energy pipeline. Lanka confers highest civilian honour on PM The two sides also signed an MoU for the interconnection of their electricity grids for power trade. Another MoU will enable the sharing of India’s digital solutions for digital transformation in Sri Lanka. PM Modi also announced a support package of approximately 2.4 billion Lankan Rupees for the social and economic development of the Eastern provinces. PM Modi and President Dissanayake also launched five projects in sectors like railways and power, which were being undertaken with India's assistance. Mr Modi also announced a comprehensive capacity-building programme in India covering 700 Sri Lankans annually. At a media briefing later, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said India has concluded the debt restructuring process with Sri Lanka by exchanging bilateral amendatory agree- NEW DELHI, 5 APRIL ments on debt restructuring, demonstrating its continued commitment to assist Sri Lanka in its economic recovery. Mr Modi told the Lankan President that the security interests of India and Sri Lanka are aligned. He said he was grateful to Sri Lanka for keeping India's security interests in mind and welcomed the defence pact between the two nations. In his remarks, Mr Dissanayake reaffirmed his government's commitment to India's security and region- al stability, saying Sri Lanka will not permit its territory to be used in any manner inimical to the security of India. He also sought PM Modi's support on a key issue. “I requested Prime Minister Modi's intervention in convening early bilateral technical discussions on Sri Lanka's claim to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf for the Establishment of the Outer limits of the Continental Shelf beyond Exclusive Economic Zone,” he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred Sri Lanka’s highest civilian honour, Mithra Vibhushana, by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Saturday. Mr Dissanayake announced the award at a joint press statement alongside Mr Modi, after their delegation level meeting. “This prestigious honour, which was introduced in 2008, is conferred upon heads of states and government for their friendship, and honourable Prime Minister Modi highly deserves this honour,” he said. SNS Surrender and embrace peaceful development, Shah appeals to Maoists SHISHIR ROY CHOWDHURY DANTEWADA, 5 APRIL India steps up vigil against cheap Chinese imports amid US tariff hike Waqf (Amendment) Bill becomes law, gets President Murmu’s assent amid backlash AGENCIES AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 5 APRIL India has stepped up vigil to prevent the dumping of cheap Chinese imports in the country after the steep US tariff hike on goods exported by the Communist-ruled country. Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal is reported to have held a number of meetings to take stock of the situation. Government officials are also in touch with industry to get a wider view of the ground reality and formulate a strategy to protect the Indian economy. The Commerce Ministry has already been keeping a close watch on goods such as steel from China which was hurting domestic industry after the earlier round of tariff hike by the US. Now the vigil has been widened to other goods as well, a senior official confirmed. While the USA has hiked tariffs for all countries, China is the worst hit as the additional tariff of 34 per cent announced by President Donald Trump has ramped up the total duty on Chinese goods imported to the USA to 54 per cent. China has retaliated against the US tariff hike by increasing duties on all American goods by 34 per cent and placing export curbs on essential rare earth metals required for the vital electronics and defence industries. China has also imposed restrictions on several US companies, especially those in defence-related industries, in a tit-for-tat move. India’s exports to the US constitute only 4 per cent of its GDP, so the direct impact of the 27 per cent hike in tariffs on Indian goods announced by President Trump will have only a "limited" impact, according to an SBI Research report.. The tariffs levied on India are the lowest among its Asian peers, compared to 34 per cent on China, 36 per cent on Thailand, 32 per cent on Indonesia, and 46 per cent on Vietnam. This is expected to give India a comparative advantage over these countries and result in an increase in exports in some sectors over the long term, the report states. The higher tariff on textile export-oriented countries like Bangladesh, China, and Vietnam may lead to lower demand due to inflationary pressures. NEW DELHI, 5 APRIL President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday gave her assent to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which was passed by both Houses of Parliament this week, the Union law ministry said in a notification. “The following Act of Parliament received the assent of the president on April 5, 2025, and is hereby published for general information: The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025,” the government said in a notification. Parliament passed the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 in the early hours of Friday (4 April) after the Rajya Sabha cleared the Bill after nearly 17 hours of debate. The Lok Sabha had passed the Bill a day earlier after another marathon debate. The legislation, aimed at streamlining the management of Waqf properties, has triggered a significant backlash, with several opposition parties and Muslim organisations challenging it in court. Leaders from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress, and the All India Majlis-eIttehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) have filed separate petitions in the Supreme Court questioning the constitutional validity of the new law. AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan argued in his petition that the Bill violates Articles 14, 15, 21, 25, 26, 29, 30, and 300-A of the Constitution, alleging that it curtails religious and cultural autonomy, enables arbitrary executive interference, and undermines minority rights. Congress MP Mohammad Jawed, a former member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Bill, also moved the top court. He alleged that the law imposes “arbitrary restrictions” on the management of Waqf properties and discriminates against the Muslim community by imposing constraints not applicable to other religious endowments. AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi filed a separate plea, stating that the legislation “diminishes the legal protections granted to Waqfs” while retaining those for Hindu, Jain, and Sikh religious endowments. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has vowed to launch a nationwide campaign against the Waqf Amendment Bill, which it claims undermine the rights and freedoms of Muslims in India. The first phase of the campaign will run for a week, focusing on countering misinformation and promoting peaceful activism. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday announced a comprehensive strategy to eradicate left-wing extremism from Chhattisgarh by March 2026. Speaking during the Bastar Pandum tribal festival on Chaitra Navratri Ashtami, Mr Shah unveiled a community-basedincentiveprogramme and made a heartfelt appeal to Maoists to surrender and return to the mainstream. Addressing thousands at the event in Dantewada, Mr Shah declared that any village ensuring the surrender of all Maoist cadres would receive a ₹1 crore development grant, a move aimed at strengthening grassroots efforts in anti-Maoist operations. “This is not just about eliminating extremism ~ it’s about empowering tribal communities to take charge of their future,” Mr Shah said. Paying tribute to Maharaja Praveer Chandra Bhanj Deo, the Home Minister hailed him as a symbol of tribal pride and resistance. “He fought for Bastar’s jal, jungle, and zameen. Today, as we defeat the ideology of violence, the spirit of Praveer Chandra blesses this trans- formation,” Mr Shah said. He announced that from 2026, Bastar Pandum will be elevated to an international tribal festival, with cultural delegations from across India and abroad. The event will showcase Bastar’s diverse traditions ~ ranging from its indigenous languages and attire to its music, cuisine, and dance forms such as the Gedi. He also announced that ₹5 crore has been sanctioned for the preservation of tribal art, attire, folklore, and language. Mr Shah said that 881 Maoists surrendered in 2024, and 521 have surrendered in just the first three months of 2025. “Where once the sounds of gunfire dominated, we now hear school bells. Where roads were a dream, highways are becoming reality,” he said. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing schools, dispensaries, hospitals, and nutrition for every tribal village, and urged communities to hold gram sabhas to facilitate the surrender and rehabilitation of local Maoists. “Those who lay down arms will be welcomed with dignity. Those who don’t will be dealt with firmly,” he warned. Defence Minister says India to play crucial role in Indo-Pacific stability; asks Naval commanders to remain alert and prepared Manipur: First talks between feuding communities, MHA remain ‘inconclusive’ STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI/IMPHAL, 5 APRIL NEW DELHI, 5 APRIL Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has stated that India stands for a free, open and rule-based order in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Urging the Commanders during the ongoing Naval Commanders’ Conference 2025 in Karwar today, Mr Singh asked the higher ups to assess the changing circumstances and ensure planning, resourcing and exercising accordingly, while remaining alert and prepared. “Security is an ongoing adaptation process, wherein there is a need to keep assessing, planning, and coming out with new ideas. We need to analyse how India can make its role more effective,” he said. Stressing on the necessity to reorient the future roles Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in a group picture with Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and others during his visit at Karwar Naval Base, in Uttara Kannada on Saturday. n ANI of the Armed Forces amidst the present unpredictable geopolitical landscape, Mr Singh said that India will have a crucial role to play. “It is our responsibility to ensure peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific as the region has become a focal point for the world”, he said. During the first edition of the biannual conference, Mr Singh reviewed the maritime security situation, operational readiness of the Indian Navy, and the future outlook. Speaking about the modernisation in the Indian Navy, Mr Singh said that national security is of paramount importance to the Government and it has always been ensured that the requirements of the Armed Forces are fulfilled. “The speed at which the work of naval modernisation is being carried out for the last 10-11 years is unprecedented. Induction of new platforms, state-ofthe-art equipment has significantly enhanced our Naval prowess and the morale of our brave sailors. It is a testimony to the fact that we are always standing with you in your preparations,” he said. During his address the defence minister also appreciated the Navy’s contribution in strengthening India’s maritime security, surpassing the expectations of the people in every situation, and displaying continued commitment towards serving the nation with new energy and innovation. The second phase of the conference is scheduled to begin from 7 April in New Delhi. AGENCIES In a bid to resolve the 23month-long ethnic hostilities in Manipur, the first tripartite meeting between officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the representatives of Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities was held in New Delhi on Saturday. However, both the MHA officials and the representatives of the Meitei community remained tight-lipped about the discussion of the meeting. Kuki-Zo Council Chairman Henlianthang Thanglet, who led an eight-member delegation of Kuki-Zo-Hmar communities, said that Saturday’s meeting was "inconclusive". “There was a proposal to issue a joint peace appeal, but we did not agree upon this,” Thanglet told IANS over the phone from Delhi. He said that the MHA A Manipur govt official said that the meeting was intended to bolster trust and cooperation between the two warring Meitei and Kuki-Zo-Hmar communities and to find a roadmap to restore peace and normality in the state. would decide about the venue and time of the next tripartite meeting. A senior official of the Manipur government in Imphal said that the first tripartite meeting was held on Saturday as part of the government's endeavour to find a mutual solution to the ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo-Hmar communities, which began on 3 May 2023, over the tribal status demand of the Meiteis. A six-member Meitei com- munity delegation comprising representatives from the All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) and the Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS) attended the meeting. Four senior officials from the government, including MHA advisor for the north-east region, A.K. Mishra, and Joint Director, MHA, Rajesh Kamble, were present in the meeting. The Manipur government official said that the meeting was intended to bolster trust and cooperation between the two warring communities and to find a roadmap to restore peace and normality in the state. Meanwhile, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an umbrella body of the Meitei civil society organisations, disowned Saturday’s meeting in the national capital as a “stage-managed spectacle” orchestrated to legitimise the “misleading narrative”.